Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-22
Niger CREEK,

like those of Peshastin, were worke,
many years ago. For the past fiftee,
years we had heard vague stories c
the negro who first discovered gold uI
on the creek, and how he lived ther
for many years, with no companion
save his Indian wife, until he ha,
gathered all the gold that he wanted
AS to how much he wanted, or hov
much he took out, We met with nC
one who knew anything more about
it than we did. The water OF the creek
which rushes. foams and roars owe
steep bed of huge boulders, is as clea
as chrystal and cold as ice. AS thi
nectar of the gods passed our parchec
lips We each swore (to himselD tha
could we always have such drink as
that We would be cold-water men for
ever more. We found the door of
CAPT. BLINN's HOUSE
Standing wide open. All kinds o1
tools, picks, shovels, drills, mallets
axes, &c, were scattered in great pro-
fusion over the floor. The house con
tanned good cooking stove and all
kinds of cooking utensils and table
ware. In one corner was huge pile
of pans, spoons, spikes and all kinds
of odds and ends, the work of the
provident and economical woodrats
which carefully lay-by everything they
can find, moved thereto, undoubtedly
by the same provident foresight that
impels several of our own good towns
men to frequent auction sales in
search of things for which they have
no present occasion, but which
MAY BECOME USEFUL SOMETIME.
Capt. Blinn's quart-mill is standing IN
good order, almost as he left it, and
could he set to work in half an hour.
Adjoining the mill is laboratory
with furnace, asids, crucibles, and
everything necessary for assaying ores
THE TUNNEL
Starts into the hill, on a level with
the bank of Niger creek and is driven
along the North wall of the lode west
ward into the mountain 60 feet.
Everything We saw bore evidence of
his systematic and orderly mode of
doing business, and of his full conf
dence in the ultimate success of the
enterprise upon which he was engaged.
He was simply making preparations
to work the mine in such a way as
would be the most economical and
profitable, a nd did not care to take out
II dollar until he WAS prepared to do it
in the most approved manner. No
fault could be found with what he had
done, and no criticism was offered ex-
cept that we all agreed that he should
have run one or two cross-cuts to ex-
plore the ledge in its full width, as the
wall rocks are some thirty feet apart
and it is never certain in what part of
the vein matter the best paying rock
may be found. For this, however, he
has laid the foundation, and at this
time, while every tool needed for the
purpose is on the ground, it would in
volve but small expense to thorough
ly test the vein upon the level of his
tunnel. Three things have been de-
monstrated already in regard to this
mine: First, that it contains an i'm
mense amount of ore; second, that it
all carries gold, and third, that some
of the ore is remarkably rich.
Our return trip was without Incl
dents of interest to any one but our
selves. We reached Olympia on the
18th instant, having been absent just
one week, during which time each Of
US gathered his pockets full Of rocks
and materials sufficient for several
books.